CD Reviews

This album is like gold

Michael Iyanaga | Aliso Viejo, CA USA | 08/06/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a huge fan of those "Charlie Christian" guitarists (Herb Ellis, Charlie Byrd, Tal Farlow, Barney Kessel) and Barney Kessel bought me through this album. The improvising of every track is beautiful and every song is so amazing. This album leaves the listener with a very fresh feeling. And it has such a classy sound. Great quality! He's got Bobby Hutcherson on vibes and Elvin Jones on drums. And Elvin just creates this beautiful flow and is so tasty. And when he goes with brushes on Burt Bacharach's, "This guy's in love with you," everything is just right. Each musician knows exactly what to play and more importantly, what not to play. They gel together so wonderfully. This is definately one of my favorite albums, along with Getz/Gilberto, Bill Evans "Sunday at the Village Vanguard" and the Great Guitars albums."

Elvin Jones rules!

Matthew Watters | Vietnam | 09/18/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Barney Kessel's musical chops have never been in doubt, but his taste is all in his mouth. In contrast to the more subdued school of jazz guitar epitomised by the likes of Kenny Burrell, Kessel throws in everything but the kitchen sink, including folk and proto-rock licks. Occasionally, as on the famous Charlie Parker 'Jam Session', its an approach that pays off in spades. Elsewhere, as on Kessel's own virtuosic but slightly absurd display of guitaristics on his album 'Workin' Out', he nearly falls on his face. This album, one of Kessel's best, walks the fine line. One one hand, you've got outright avant gardists like Bobby Hutcherson and Elvin Jones dragging the very capable Kessel into some surprising new territory. On the other hand, Kessel has chosen Burt Bacharach and Paul Simon tunes and insists on too often on remaining on very melodic turf. Hutcherson is a fellow conspirator, dutifully introducing the tune of "Sounds of Silence". That leaves Elvin Jones who makes the daring choice to just go for it, all out. He's in his best late-Coltrane power mode of shifting polyrthythms and he refuses to let the proceedings lapse into a sort of chamber jazz. 'Feelin' Free' ends up being an outstanding Elvin Jones album, but loses a star for Kessel's overly pop sensibility."

Outstanding performance with Bobby Hutcherson

Grzegorz Szymczak | poland | 10/06/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought the cd having no idea about Barney and the main attraction was to be Bobby Hutcherson. I was astounded by Bobby's part, but immediately fell in love with music and the guitar. It is a marvelous cd and every day I go to the park with a trolley with my baby I put ipod in and repeat the cd all over again - marvelous music."